IMPLEMENTATION OF MECHANICAL LOGGING ON

THE OLON-SHIBIRSKOYE COALFIELD

Ignatiev N.N.1, 2, 3
Lapteva M.I.1
1
JSC SUEK, Russia
2
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia
3
GIN RAS, Russia

ABSTRACT
The article is dedicated to the results of mechanical logging implementation on
the Olon-Shibirskoye coalfield. Previous investigations had shown that non-core
drilling could potentially provide information on geological composition of a
coalfield and on the ash content of coal by the means of mechanical logging. Since
then, the equation of the correspondence between drilling velocity and ash content
has been modified as the result of analyzing a greater amount of data. The next step
of the research was examining the implementation of mechanical logging for
operational exploitation on the Olon-Shibirskoye coalfield. For this stage, thirty-
one boreholes were drilled with the implementation of mechanical logging. Results
of this drilling were compared to the geological exploration data that had been
obtained earlier in the same area and several drilling process requirements had been
developed. The drilling process should be constant, without any intervention of a
drill operator, otherwise the results might appear corrupt. The intervention caused
by rocks falling into a borehole is aimed at removing drilled solids from the
borehole. In order to prevent rocks getting into boreholes, a number of well
parameters, which may lead to the falling of rocks, should be taken into
consideration: well depth, the amount of coal beds that well crosses, fractures,
faulting or other dislocations of rocks, as well as the inclination of a borehole axis.
Keywords: coal, ash content, mechanical logging, non-core drilling, mining

INTRODUCTION
As far as geological conditions and quality of coal are the main parameters for
coal mining [1], the geological exploration has great importance. Also, exploratory
drilling as basic method, is an expensive one and takes a lot of time to perform,
especially if we talk about core drilling [2]. Despite on these downsides the core
drilling provides the most complete information on geological conditions and
quality of coal. However, we need to keep costs down and aspire to implement
methods that are able to provide all necessary information with lower costs if
compared to conventional methods. According to our previous research mechanical
logging can be useful in exploratory drilling as an additional or even alternative
method to core drilling and other geophysical methods [3].
Mechanical logging is geophysical method that collects drilling parameters
through the process of drilling a well. There is a number of parameters, such as
pressure on the bottom of the hole, torque, air irrigation pressure, rotation of drilling
bit, and the most important parameter: drilling velocity. Drilling velocity shows
how fast drilling bit is moving through rocks. Due to certain differences between
physical properties of bituminous coals and overburden rocks [4], the drilling
process parameters considerably differ.
The geological survey of JSC SUEK has been using the method of mechanical
logging since 2010 for estimation of
coal beds. The practice of using it has revealed that the drilling velocity is the most
useful parameter in the mechanical well logging method.
In our previous research we have found that it is potentially possible to estimate
the ash content of coal beds. In this study we had a task to examine method and to
find its limitations.

GEOLOGICAL SETTING
The Olon-Shibirskoye coalfield is located on the border between Republic of
Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai and is one of two currently developing coalfields in
Tugnuiskaya basin. Tugnuiskaya basin stretches out for more than 100 km from the
river Kharauz in the east to the river Khilok in the west, the width of basin is 20-22
km. From the north and the south, the basin is bounded by deep tectonic faults. The
basin is divided into seven synclinal structures by tectonic faults that stretch out to
the north-east and north-west. One of these synclinal structures is the Olon-
Shibirskoye coalfield. The coalfield is bounded by Tsagan-Dabanskiy and
Zaganskiy ridge branches in the north and in the east, whereas the Kapsal anticline
high bounds the coalfield in the south.
The coalfield consists of early and middle Jurassic deposits overlay the residual
soil of Paleozoic granitoids. The Quaternary deposits overlay the Jurassic coal-
bearing strata. Jurassic coal-bearing strata is divided into Ichetuiskaya igneous
sedimentary formation (J1- ) and Tugnuiskaya terrigenous coal-bearing formation
(J2tg).
All coal beds consist of bituminous flame coal. Coals are high quality fuel for
steam-electric power generation.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

For this study we took mechanical well logging data on thirty-one boreholes.
These boreholes have different parameters such as: depth, number of coal beds that
were crossed, inclination and quantity of loose material near the wellhead. Using
this data, we have estimated ash content and compared it with data that was obtained
in the result of previous geological exploration with core samples and geophysical
well logs.
Since previous research we have added more data for correlation between ash
content and drilling velocity. Thereby the linear dependency is turned to be more
precise then the exponential (Figure 1).
 100
90 y = -0.2429x + 100.5
80 R² = 0.7318
70
60
Ash, %

50
40
30
20
10
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Velocity, m/h

Figure 1 The drilling velocity dependence on the ash content

Also, we have examined if other drilling parameters, except drilling velocity,
correlate with ash content. It turned out that pressure on the bottom of the hole,
torque, air irrigation pressure, rotation of drilling bit, are not correlate with ash
content (Table 1).
Table 1. Correlation coefficients between ash content and drilling parameters

Parameter
Velocity, m/h -0.86
Pressure, atm -0.01
Torque, atm 0.37
Air, atm 0.20
Rotation, rpm 0.11

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Analysis of mechanical well logging data has shown that accuracy of ash
content estimation depends on different parameters of borehole such as: depth,
number of coal beds that were crossed, inclination and quantity of loose material
near the wellhead. These parameters control the quantity of rocks and loose
materials falling into the well, that causes drill operator to slow down the drilling
process in order to remove drill solids from the borehole with air flow. The most
adequate accuracy of ash content estimation was found in vertical boreholes, that
has a little quantity of loose material near the wellhead. One of exploratory borehole
(well 1) was drilled near the borehole that was drilled on the stage of geological
exploration (well 2270) so we could compare its data (Figure 2).
 Figure 2. The comparison between two boreholes. Well 1 was drilled with
implementation of mechanical logging, well 2270 was drilled with core drilling.
Vertical - altitude
As we can see, the difference between ash content estimation is not exceed 5,3
%. However, we believe that this method could provide more accurate estimation.
In order to reduce inaccuracy, we developed several requirements for drilling
process. These requirements will prevent drill operator from intervention to drilling
process.
 1. All loose material should be removed from the surface where drilling will
take place.
2. Boreholes should be vertical, greater inclination leads to bigger
inaccuracy.
3. The deeper the borehole, the less accurate ash content estimation might be.
Obviously, the amount of analyzed data is still insufficient for precise ash
content estimation. However, the current data allows to estimate the approximate
ash content. The goal for the further research is to examine method with the all
above-mentioned recommendations in mind.

CONCLUSION
The method of mechanical logging can be useful in exploratory drilling as an
alternative or in addition to core drilling and other geophysical methods on
coalfields. It can provide information about boundaries between coal and
overburden rocks, in addition we have shown that we are able to estimate ash
content in coal. Our priority goal is to improve accuracy of this method.
Also, we have developed several drilling process requirements that will provide
more accurate data. For this purpose, the following should be taken into
consideration in process of drilling: well depth, the amount of coal beds that well
crosses, fractures, faulting or other dislocations of rocks, quantity of loose material
near wellhead, as well as the inclination of a borehole axis.
Besides above-mentioned, the further research will also concern following
issues:
1. possible methods of the evaluation of moisture, fracturing and other
parameters of coal;
2. dividing the overburden rocks by their composition;
3. the estimation of the geological setting of the coalfield and the tectonic
dislocations.
Thus, this paper shows the experience of implementation of the mechanical
logging method on the open pit coal mine.

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